Love the Loaded Potato!

I see so many comments on the Nutrisystem Facebook group about people who dislike the Loaded Potato. I can understand that the idea of having mashed potatoes for lunch sounds unappealing. After all, mashed potatoes sounds like a side dish, right? But if you let those creative juices start flowing, you'll realize that this entrée can be made into so many different meals! It's a great way to keep your meals changed up and keep things fresh.

The easiest way of all to eat these is to prepare as directed (although I still recommend using boiling water and then covering rather than preparing in the microwave!), and then just eat them as a side dish with your favourite Powerfuel. I often enjoy this with a 100 calorie piece of salmon (save your morning PF for this!), or 3oz of grilled chicken. Add a salad or some roasted vegetables, and your plate looks like a regular lunch.

Want to get a little fancier? Try my Baked Crab Florets or Crab Cakes. Want a picnic favourite? Have you tried making Potato Salad? Want a nice bowl of rich soup for lunch? Try my Clam Chowder or Creamy Potato Soup. If you're looking up recipes I've made with the Loaded Potato, don't forget to check my blog tags for the Cheesy Homestyle Potatoes, which was the previous name for a very similar entrée that Nutrisystem offered in the past.

And speaking of soup, I decided to do a second version of my Potato Leek Soup to bring the recipe up to date with the new Nutrisystem program requirements, since things have changed since 2011. It is so rich and full of flavour, and I think you'll find it a satisfying choice on a brisk fall day. It also makes a huge portion, so it will help keep the hungries away!

Potato Leek Soup (Lunch):

1 pkg Nutrisystem Loaded Potato
1 leek, chopped
2 cups no sodium chicken broth
pepper, garlic to taste
1/2 tbsp. bacon bits (optional)
1/2 tbsp. low fat shredded cheddar cheese (optional)

Spray a small pot with Pam spray, and sautee your leeks over medium heat for 5-7 minutes or until they start to soften. If they start to stick to the pan, add a tiny bit of the chicken broth. Add the pepper and garlic. While you are cooking the leeks, prepare the Loaded Potato with boiling water and cover until it sets. When leeks are tender, add the chicken broth to the pan and turn the heat up to high. When the soup is bubbling, add the Loaded Potato and stir well to make it smooth and creamy.

Serve in a large bowl, as this is a generous portion! If desired, add the cheese and bacon bits as garnish.

This soup is so flavourful and delicious, quick and easy to make, and fits right into your Nutrisystem program. Count this entire large bowl as a Nutrisystem lunch entrée, 2 veggie servings, a free food (the broth), and if you use the cheese and bacon it would count as one extra total (the cheese is 14 calories, the bacon bits are 15 calories).

Bon appetit!

Turbo Takeoff Day Six

I feel like I have to relearn all over again which foods I like, and then think about what to do with them. I am not sure if all of the tricks I used to use still work, and then the foods themselves are just different.

I've tried now nearly everything in my Turbo Takeoff box, with varying reactions. I know I generally loved the Nutrisystem breakfast baked items, but once again I was disappointed. The chocolate chip baked bar was just as awful as the blueberry lemon one- cardboard that tasted of chemicals. Even the double chocolate muffin had a strong chemical taste. It really makes me miss the cranberry orange pastry and the apple strudel scone!

I had some issues with the texture of the loaded potato, too. I used to do all kinds of magic with that, but I found myself unable to fry it into potato cakes. I don't know if it was user error this time (I didn't use a non-stick pan and perhaps didn't use enough Pam) and I'll have to try again, but I was sad about the results if not the flavour. I did definitely enjoy the taste, though!

I am wondering why the dry cup entrees are no longer add boiling water; I really hate adding room temperature water and then microwaving, because items often boil over and then I lose part of my lunch as well as make a mess. The boiling water was easy and worked well. Yesterday though when I tried the three cheese chicken lunch, the sauce didn't coalesce properly when I used boiling water. Surprise surprise, then it boiled over even on lower power in my microwave (when the instructions clearly say high). I am finding these to be small but annoying frustrations.

The BBQ seasoned chicken dinner, I really enjoyed. I cooked up some diced onion and green pepper in a little bit of low calorie BBQ sauce in a pan, then poured the entrée over top. I took a Flatout wrap for a carb serving and then added lettuce and tomato to that before filling it with the rest of the meal. It made a really filling and delicious dinner- one of the first times I've felt satiated this week.

I was a little skeptical of the Italian herb flatbread pizza since I couldn't use any of my usual modifications. I was pleasantly surprised that the included cheese is a little better than it was before. I did miss being able to add turkey pepperoni, but it was still acceptable when I topped it with onions, peppers, and tomatoes.

I am looking forward to this week coming to an end, so I can start playing again. While I am glad I have the convenience of the food, I am looking forward to being less hungry and still losing weight!